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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Mariam Abacha" <mariab52@sify.com>
Reply-To: mariana52@sify.com
Date: Tue, 18 Oct 2005 01:16:46 -0700
Subject: How are you dear?


Dear Friend,
I know that this mail will come to you as a suprise but never mind, I am contacting you in utmost confusion via the internet for an honest and capable partner for this transaction while praying that Allah will grant me all that my heart desires.
I believe that in recent times you must have heard over the radio and t.v stations in AMERICA or even in ASIA about my family regarding huge sums of money stacked in foreign banks on different names for business. I believe its a legacy we came to meet when my late husband became the head of state of our country.
Right now my good friend, It does not matter to me whether you are small or big but your ability to help me sort out things is mostly needed now .I do not justify myself but it has happened and it is mostly common with African leaders.
Following the sudden death of my husband General Sani Abacha the late former head of state of Nigeria in August 1998, I have been thrown into a state of utter confusion, frustration and hopelessness by the present civilian administration, I have been subjected to physical and psychological torture by the security agents in the country.
My son is under detention arraigned before the federal high court of Nigeria for an offence he did not commit and will be released on condition if we(Abacha Family)will forget about the $700 million dollars my late husband kept in Amsterdam,then my son will be
released which I just agreed on last week to effect the release of my son MOHAMMED but they still held him back in prison saying until they have recovered all the money that my late husband put in other banks. You can imagine that!.

As a widow that is so traumatizing ,I have lost confidence with anybody within Africa.
You must have heard over the media reports and the internet on the recovery of various huge sums of money deposited by my husband in different banks as I said earlier above abroad.
Some companies willingly give up their secrets and disclosed our money confidently lodged with them and many outrightly blackmailed us.
In fact the total sum recovered by the Government so far is in the tune of $900. Million dollars and I can boldly tell you that I dont even know about all this money sincerely until the present government started recovering them and forcing me to sign at gun point, and they are not relenting to make me and my children poor for life.
I will repose great confidence in you,You may not be able to talk to me on phone because armed security operatives are daily parading my place of"House Arrest" in the Presidential Villa and the only thing I have with me is this "Laptop" they agreed to give me to keep me company in playing games not knowing the "Laptop" has internet connection from where am sending you this mail.
So that is why I decided to contact you and I hope you will not betray my confidence in you. I have deposited the sum of 35.3 million dollars with a security firm abroad whose name is witheld for now until we open communication. It was enclosed in a box in the form of a consignment without the knowledge of the security firm.
I shall be grateful if you could receive this box as my partner and deposit the funds into your account for safe keeping, after which you shall have 20% of the total sum for assisting me. 3% have been mapped out for all expenses that will be incurred during the transaction, including cost of opening accounts, flight tickets, accommodations etc. While 7% will be for the less privellaged in the society as in fulfilment of my pledge to Allah.
You must understand that this arrangement is known to you and my sons Mustapha and Mohammed who is in prison alone and so must be held in high confidentiality. It will not take more than 7 working days to accomplish depending on your level of commitment.
So my Representative by name Jack Princewill who is in Dubai presently will deal directly with you as security is up my whole being.
I am seriously considering to settle down abroad in future in a friendly atmosphere like yours as soon as this fund gets secured in your account so that I can start all over again but only after all this travails.
I will require more details from you, as well as a scanned copy of your international passport to enable me effect changes on the vital documents that will position you as the beneficiary on my behalf. I will give you a more detailed picture of things after receiving your reply. Should in case you dont accept, please do not let me out to the security as I am giving you this information in total trust and confidence. I will greatly appreciate if you could accept my
proposal in good faith.
Please expedite action.
Thank You Very Much
Mrs. Mariam Abacha

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